Meijin — Restaurant in New York

5/5⭐️ (It is my honor and pleasure to award my 4th 5 out of 5 stars to Meijin Ramen)

Meijin Ramen

Spicy Shredded Pork Tonkotsu Ramen - $19.

Broth - 5/5. I generally don’t do “spicy” but since it was their best seller, I thought I give it a try. There are two sides of the broths. The left half has a very spicy kick to it but I can taste the creaminess. Prepare to have the pores opened and runny nose. The right half is rich in black garlic and the spice is subtle.

Cha shu - 5/5. Pulled fatty pork. It absorbs the broth really well.

Noodle - 5/5. wavy noodles that has that perfect firm texture while absorbing the broth so well I just… makes sexy moaning noises while a jazzy background music plays

This is what I meant previously about the “perfect harmonious balance” in ramen. No part can be better or stronger than the other. The broth may be spicy but it’s not too salty. Both cha shu and noodles absorbs it well, enticing my appetite with each bite. If I could handle spice better, I would’ve finished every drop of the broth. Also, for the record, I’m not a soup person so when I finish a ramen broth, that speaks loud in volume of the chef’s recipe and skills.

Side notes: The egg in the ramen is super creamy in the yolk and super concentrated in soy sauce!

Other side notes:

Tuna Tartare - 5/5. A MUST TRY. I can see why it’s one of their best sellers and highly recommended on the menu.

Pork Bun - 3/5. Thinner more than I normally like for it to be but I was able to taste the fatty texture among the other garnishes and sauces. Thick bun though.

Karaage - 1/5. It was a bit underwhelming and a bit dried but their ramen and other appetizers outshine this dish. I would stick with the tuna tartare and ramen. That being said, I still make my...

I love me some Ramen, so if I'm ever near a new place, I try to give it a go. I was sold on this place since it doesn't use pork broth, which I don't eat. Stopped in here on a very cold night to try out their Ramen. I was first seated at the bar facing the kitchen, but the bar is placed somewhat inconveniently in the front, so you are seated with your back to the rest of the restaurant, which I wasn't a fan of. I asked to change seats, and after a brief discussion with the rest of the wait staff, they seated me at a small table. They offer a Beef broth and Chicken broth Ramen. I asked which is more flavorful, and the waitress suggested the beef. So, I went with the spicy beef ramen. Ramen came out in about 10 minutes which was nice. The broth had a slightly meaty favor, which had a slight more beef stock style flavor vs the umami flavor I'm used to with Ramen. The broth did have a good amount of heat to it though, so the spicy was actually spicy. The noodles were nice and slightly chewy, which I liked. The meat was actually ground beef. Initially it tasted fine, but was a bit strong and slightly greasy as the meal went on. Also, I don't think the meat was very lean since there was a bit of gristle in the meat, which wasn't enjoyable to bite down on. This noodle didn't come with an egg, but I added one to the order, which surprisingly didn't cost extra. I will say that the egg was really good, had great flavor, and just melted in your mouth. All in all, this was pretty good, but sort of just OK ramen, as I wasn't too big of a fan of the slight greasy-beefy feel of the ramen. Maybe the chicken one is better, so I'll have to try...

Ambiance (5/5): On the left side of the establishment is a trendy high top bar scene and the right side is for dining. The inside dining looks into the kitchen. There's outside dining as well. It was nice and quiet.

The ceiling has paper swans strung up which is pretty cool! But wary that the swans high sway in front of a ceiling light and it might feel like a strobe light lol. The bathroom has a window into a zen garden!!

Service (5/5): We came in at 9pm on a weeknight and there were at least 5 parties in the restaurant. We were serviced quickly and the food also came out pretty fast!

Shredded Pork Tonkatsu (4/5): The broth is extremely rich and creamy! One the better broths I've had in UES. I enjoyed the ramen noodles (requested firm) and I loved the spice and flavor but didn't love the shredded pork. We got a side of their sliced pork but it was a bit cold and needed to be submerged in the broth. It was a nice cut but not soft and fall part.

Washu Ramen (3/5): Don't be fooled to think the premium cost is wagyu meat! It came out as thinly sliced pieces but were tough to chew after being submerged in the water unlike beef slices used in pho. The broth is beef taste forward which I wasn't the biggest fan of.

I would definitely come back to try the chicken broth...